Hill Climbers: Aide Finds Interests Mesh With Hill

Katelynn Anderson didnt plan to work on Capitol Hill, but she changed her mind after an internship with a district office. Anderson now works as a legislative correspondent for Rep. Joe Baca, using her background in Spanish to help communicate with constituents.

When she started college, Katelynn Anderson saw herself working at the United Nations or an international nongovernmental organization. By the time she graduated in December 2011, her sights had shifted to Capitol Hill.

Rep. Joe Baca’s (D-Calif.) new legislative correspondent studied international relations and Spanish studies at the University of Delaware.

It was a family member who suggested the Pennsylvania native give the world of politics a try. An aunt, who worked in political public relations, suggested she find a political internship.

“She was the one that helped me and told me to get involved that way,” Anderson said.

As a constituent services intern in the Philadelphia office of Sen. Bob Casey (D) during the summer of 2010, Anderson dealt with constituents eager to voice their opinions during the health care debate.

“I definitely got a lot of experience with handling constituents,” she said.

Her aunt’s instinct that Anderson would enjoy the internship was correct.

“She wanted me to see if I liked it,” Anderson said, “and I liked it.”

Anderson enjoyed working for the Senator so much that she came to work in his Washington office during the summer after her junior year. It was then that she decided she wanted to return to D.C. after graduation.

Even though she’s working on Capitol Hill, Anderson still gets a bit of a chance to pursue her interests in international affairs as legislative correspondent for Baca, former chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.